Speeders' £250k classroom lesson

School children are benefiting from speeding drivers opting to pay for a 90-minute road safety course, instead of getting a fine and three points

Auto Express Car Reviews

28th June 2007

The course costs guilty motorists £60, and so far the speeders have coughed up £250,000 worth of funding to Avon and Somerset schools since last autumn, thanks to the Operation Taboo initiative.

Now the novel idea is attracting the attention of many other forces around the country. Chief Inspector Norman Pascal, from Avon and Somerset Road Policing Unit, said: "Taboo has helped thousands of motorists, educating them on the dangers of breaking the speed limit. It's directly benefited schools across our region, providing grants to support road safety education."

Once the costs of the classes are covered, the remainder is donated to local schools. One driver who attended said: "The session revealed the devastation going even 5mph over a 30mph limit causes. Points would not change my behaviour."